Reciprocating feed device



Jan. 9, 1951 F. MARTINDELL RECIPROCATING FEED DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 10, 1942 IOR. Ml

I I HHI HUM Jan. 9, 1951 F. MARTlNDELL ,5

RECIPROCATING FEED DEVICE Filed July 10, 1942 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 F. MARTINDELL 2,537,360

RECIPROCATING FEED DEVICE Filed July 10, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 //V VAC/V701? [MARI/A ma Patented Jan. 9, 19 51 UNITED STATES PA TE-NT v 2,537,360 s RECIPROCATING FEED 'liEViCE 1T 'FrankMartindell,"'Westeni sprin 111.; "zis's'ig'nf'of ;-t0' *'Western "Electric Company; Incorporated, -New York; -N;' YE, a corporation of NeW' Yo'i'k Original- :ap plication J uly '10QQ1942; Serialj-No.

,409. mviaea' and this application October 27,1945; "Se'i'iaI NO. 625,080

Claims. 1

This invention relates to a machine 'for welding and its object istoprovide' an 7 improved machine for accurately and economically weldingcontacts *to switch springs "orother elements of electrical "apparatus, and this "appl'eationis a-division' of =Ix'1y copendingapplication Serial Nor-450' 409;;fi'led July 10,- 1942; (new Patent" No. 2,388,754y-dated -Novamber- 13, '1-945) In accordance" with one emb odim'ent of the Oth-er- =features andadvantages ofthe invention w'illbecome-apparent from the followingfdetaileddescriptiontaken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings=,-in which "Figf l is afragmentary side view'-partly in -section';- of a conta'ct weld ng-machine embodying i the feature's of -this' invention:

- *Figsi Z' and- 3 areenlarged*"vertical sectional views-of portions of themachine shown in Fig. 1

l Fig; 4Pis -an' enlarged vertical sectionoi the.. -contactstrip feed ng chuck;

'Fig. 5 is a' verticals'ection 'on' lin'e- 5 -5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 isa horizontal sect'iori on- 1ine-6=6 of Fig. 4;

Figs. '7- and 8 areperspective views of the con -tact strp gripping and feeding jaws;

Fig. 9 is'an enlarged='fragn'1entary sectionon line 9 -9 of Fig.4;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary Vertical e section similar tothe-"lower portioif- 'of "-Figlz 2 i :;but showing. thef'upper. electrode and the} cutter A in their operated pos'tions;

f- Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentarysectiori on Fig. 12 is a'fragmentary section 'orilline I'2- I2-:

i -of Fig. 1, and

; Fig. 13 is an enlargedfragmentary horiZdntal section-on'line I3-I f Fig.- 1.

Referring now to the 1 drawings,- "and p'arti'cularly to Fig; 1-, the welding machine illustrated: =;therein v comprises a rcylindrical lower welding electrode 20'and a circula'r upper Welding electrode -2 l the latter being ivert cally mov'able toward and away from; the lower electrode. i The ipper electrode is clampedto an .uppereleetrode;

(emu-2.5)

- fsu'ppo'rting head 22bymeansof a'clampingblock -23- (Fig. '2 i and a "cooperating 'clampingserew 24 threadedinto "an internallythreaded tubular sha'nk ZE of the clamping block. The block"'23 *rec'eiving a Vert call'y'reciprocable chisel-like" cutter 28, the function of which is'to' sever the con- "tactsfrom acontinu'ous' strip of 'contact'material the mannerhereinafter described.

10 The upperelectrodesupporting head"22 i's at- 'tached to a crosshead "29at the lower end" of a vertical bar-30, which'fis"mountedfor' vetical movement' iri a iie'i'ticarsleeve "32 'support'edin "a bracket 3'I attachedt'o age'ar'housin'g 33"(Fig". 1).

ls Thisgear' housing issecured" to the "upper end' of tubular post "35f'which is im'ount'edf'or' vertical adj'ustment in a tubular bracket 36 attached to abase plat'e fl dfthemachine. v I

Arr'upper electrode operat'ng' lever 41f is' p iv- 20-*oted intermediate itsen'd s' upon a horizontal pivot pin 4 I in the I'Jracket 3 I One en'd ofthis lever is adapted to 'e'ngagethe' underside of a collar "42*fi xed 'tdthe upper electrode supporting bar am The oppdsiteenddf the'lever isrequii'oiied cam shaftf liijourrialledinthegear housing. The cani -oneratesthrough lever "to elevate"oi""re "'tract the upper electrode "against thebpfiosing force of a coil spring 48 "('Fig ")"on, theuppefend '*compressed'between the "upper side of collaf 42 and aspi in housing'49,"thelatter being vertr cally adj ustable'in a horizontalarm5 I 'ofbracket 7 3I-toadjfistthetenson ofthespring.

;. ::-for verticaladjustment" in thebasef p-late 31. As showriin Fig. l, the "tubular bearing 5 is threadf "ed: in a fia'ng'ed tubiilarbracket *5 8- attached I to 31 9: tbase plate'wsd that by turning the hearing 0:"in the bracket; the bearing inay b' elevatedcr lowered ito adj u'st the posit'ion of' thelower electrodewith: respect-to the up'per electrode;

Me'chanism'iis 5 provided for indexing" the" lower electrode after' ea'ch' welding operatiomto present a' -coo1 portion of the e1ectrode f0neach welding 3. operation. This mechanism comprises a driven clutch member 69 (Figs. 1 and 13) attached to the lower electrode supporting shaft, and a driving clutch member 61 which surrounds the driven clutch member and is adapted to drive it in one direction only through three, spring pressed rollers 62B2 disposed in peripheral notches 63, 63 in the driven clutch member. The construction is such that the driven clutch member is constrained to rotate with the driving clutch member when the latter is rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. 13) against the opposing force of a torsion spring 65. When, however, the driving clutch member is rotated in a counterclockwise direction under the force of the torsion spring, the driven clutch member remains stationary while the driving clutch member rotates around the clutch rollers 12. For imparting the required intermittent clockwise movement to the driving clutch member there is provided on the driving shaft 55 a driving disk 66 having a driving finger 61 attached thereto and extending radially therefrom. This driving finger cooperates with a pcripheral projection 68 on the driving disk to impart thereto a predetermined clockwise movement during each revolution of the driving shaft. This movement of the driving clutch member is transmitted through the clutch rollers 62 to the driven clutch member 69, whereby the lower electrode is rotated sufiiciently to present a cool portion thereof for the next welding operation. After each indexing operation the driving finger 61 slides by the projection 68 on the driving clutch member, whereupon the torsion spring 95 returns the driving clutch member to its original position.

A cylindrical rod 10 (Fig. 1) is mounted in a vertical position above the upper electrode supporting bar 30 and in axial alignment therewith. The lower end of this rod is fixed in a horizontal arm II of bracket 3| and its upper end extends through a bearing block 12 fixed to the gear housing 33. A bracket I4 is mounted on the upper end of rod I and a similar bracket I5 is mounted on the upper electrode guiding sleeve 32. To these two brackets there is attached a vertical plate I? upon which is mounted the block 86, while the long links 94 are pivotally connected to a pin 95 disposed in a slot 96 in the movable chuck jaw 81. The construction is such that when the toggle links are collapsed by downward movement of the toggle operating link 92, the movable chuck jaw 87 is free to move away from the other jaw 88 sufiiciently to permit the two jaws to slide along the contact strip, but when the toggle links are straightened by upward movement of the toggle operating link, the movable jaw is moved toward the other jaw so that the contact strip is firmly gripped between the two jaws as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. A cover plate 98 is provided over the slot 89 in the chuck block for limiting the opening movement of the movable jaw of the chuck.

As mentioned above, the chuck closing link 92 is attached at its upper end to the collar 9| which is fixed to the sleeve 8I. Thus, the link 92 is constrained to move with this sleeve which is urged upwardly on the feed spindle 82 by a coil spring I00 interposed between an adjustable extension I92 on the upper end of the sleeve and the upper end of a spacer sleeve I93 above the chuck block 86. By urging sleeve 8I upwardly, the spring I99 tends to straighten the toggle links 93 and 94 and thereby close the chuck jaws on the contact strip. For moving the chuck operating sleeve 8| downwardly against the opposing force of the spring to re.ease the chuck jaws from the contact strip, there is provided a rock lever I34 which is pivoted intermediate its ends on the mounting plate I7. One end of this lever rests on a collar I95. This collar is slidable on the vertical rod 70 and rests on one end of a cam lever I06 which is pivoted intermediate its ends on the bracket 3I. At its opposite end, the cam lever I96 has a depending leg III'I which carries a roller I98 adapted to ride on a cam I09 fixed to the cam shaft 46. This cam is designed to rock lever I94 so as to depress chuck operating sleeve 8I and thereby open the Y erating cycle of the machine.

mechanism for feeding a continuous strip 80 of contact metal from a supply spool (not shown) to the welding electrodes.

The contact strip feeding mechanism comprises a tubular spindle 82 (Figs. 2 and 3), which is slidable in a vertical sleeve BI. The sleeve 8| is vertically slidable in guide blocks 83 and 84 secured to the mounting plate TI. The spindle 82 has a chuck 85 attached to its lower end. This chuck comprises a block 86 having a transverse slot 89 (Fig. 4) within which a pair of cooperating clamping jaws 81 and 88 are mounted, one of the jaws, 81, being horizontally slidable toward and away from the other jaw. The opposed faces of the two clamping jaws are grooved to provide a vertical guide passage 90 therebetween conforming to the cross section of the contact strip 89. When the clamping jaws are opened, they are free to slide along the contact strip as the chuck is elevated with the spindle 82 in the manner hereinafter described.

Clamped to the sleeve 8I above the bearing block 84 is a collar 9I to which the upper end of a vertical chuck actuating link 92 is pivotally connected. This link is pivotally connected at its lower end to the outer ends of two spaced pairs of toggle links, each pair comprising a short link 93 and a long link 94. The short links 93 are pivotally connected at their inner ends to the chuck,

chuck jaws at the proper time during each op- A handle H0 is provided on the rock lever I04 for manually opening the chuck jaws when necessary, for example, when adjusting or setting up the machine.

The upper end of the contact strip feeding spindle 82 is slidable in a spring plunger sleeve Ii2 (Fig. 3) which, in turn, is slidable in an adjustable bushing II3 threaded in a supporting block II-i attached to the mounting plate TI. The plunger sleeve II2 has a flange H5 at its lower end which is pressed upwardly by a spring IIG against one end of a rock lever H! which is pivoted intermediate its ends on the mounting plate 'I'I (Fig. 1). The opposite end of this rock lever rests on a collar IIB which is slidable on the vertical rod I0 and rests on one end of a cam lever I20. This cam lever is pivoted intermediate its ends on the bracket 3I and has a depending leg I2I which carries a roller I22 adapted to ride on a cam I23 fixed to the cam shaft 46. The cam is designed to rock the lever II'I so as to depress the plunger sleeve I I2 at the proper time during each operating cycle of the machine. Interposed between the plunger sleeve and a collar I25 fixed to the strip feeding spindle is a spring I25 through which the downward movement of the plunger sleeve is transmitted to the strip feeding spindle, thereby advancing the previously gripped contact strip downwardly through a guide quill I28 which directs the contact strip toward the welding electrodes.

A stop sleeve I30 is threaded on the upper end xistent) otthe strip feeding-*spindl 82 and is adapted ,to' engage the flanged upper end of bushing 11 H 3 *td limit 1 the downward movement-"of the ie ed spindle. By simply-turning this stop sleeve it tmay beadjusted longitudinallyof thefeed spindle to vary the extent'of- 'downwa'rdmove- '-"--nient ofthe feed spindle, whereby the'lengthof contact strip advanced during each feeding-cycle is predetermined. It will-be understdodthat after the feed'spindlehas beemde'pre'ssed toits' lowermost positionagainst stop bushing I I 3; fur- -ther downward movement" of the plunger sleeve H2 is taken up'by the sprihgI-ZB; v The-guide quilli28 is composedof two curved "plates [32 and --l 3 3' attached a to the mounting plate -11. The opposed surfaces of these plates "are grooved to provide a contactstrip-guiding p'assage I35, the lower end ofwhich curves-to were the welding electrodes,--" as best- -shown -in =Figs;' 2*and' 10. Plate 132- isfOrmed at'its mwer end with a horizontal 1 extension [36- which pro-f 'je'cts beyond the lower en'dot plate i33- and is -provided on-its underside'with a contact'strip guiding groove 38 (Fig.- '10) in alignment with the discharge end of the guide passage I35. The free'--end portion of the-contact -strip is-yieldably held in thegroove -l38 -by means ot a flat J=1spring 39 attached 3 at one end to' the plate 133. Thefree endof this sp'rin'g is -bent over and is 1 provided with an aperture 140 for directingthe :9 endof the contact strip into a position-immediately below theupper electrode; as shown in Fig'l 2.

As me'ntioned abovegthe vertically-reciprocable chisel-like cutter 28-;Whi'chis mounted on theiace- --of the u'ppen electrode 2 I serves --to sever-contacts from the endof' the continuous strip of -""conta'ct metal. This" cutter is piv'otally; connected' atl42 tonne end of a lever I43 which is .pi-VOtGd intermediate its ends on the mounting fplate TI. The opposite end of lever l43-is connectedby an adjustable link l'44 (Fig-. 1) =to'one -e'ndof a rock'lever i l di-w hich is pivoted intermediate its endson a' -bracket M6 attachedsr-to loIocE-SS. Z The opposite end ofthis' ro'ck' lever: is;

pivotally connected to a-collarl48 which slidable on the rod 'lfl. A spring-I49 urges the collar upwardlyag'ainst one end -ofa cam"- lever [50 -wh'ich is pivoted intermediate its ends on the "bracket 3L The opposite-end of this cam lever "carries a roller l5l adaptedto ride on a-cam 151:: 11 'on cam shaft: 46. The cam is-designed toactu ate the interconnected" levers andlinks so as to operate-the cutter'QB'at the proper time during each cycle of.operation of the machine.

In the operation "of the machine a switch 1 spring 4150, 011 which a contact'is to be' welded, is placed by the operator upon a suitable fixture IBI, WhiCh TDQSitiOIIS the switchspring so that one end thereof extends above the lower welding electrode 20, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Anop'er- "ating cycle of them'achine is then startedby the -:o perator by operatively connecting the shaft 55 *"fwith a suitable driving-means (none shown) whichincludes conventional mechanism for stop-' ping the machine automatically upon"'the"completion of an operating cycle. The details of the driving mechanism and the means for supplying the welding current to the welding electrodes have been omitted, since they form no part of the present invention and a detailed disclosure thereof is believed unnecessary to a complete understanding of the present invention. It is believed sufiicient to state herein that during each pperating cycle of the machine, shaft 55 and cam sh'aft '4G eachmake one; and only one, complete "revolution "and then stop automatically, and; at

the "end of each-operating cycle the operated parts of the machine come to rest in the positions 5 in which they are'shown in Fig. 1.

At the beginning of eachoperating cycle- 0f the machine the finger 6-1 'on driving disk 66 in- "-*-dexes' thelower electrode to move a cool por- '-t ion thereof-to the welding position, and'the' upm p-er electrode" elevating cam 45 permits spring 48 to -move upper electrode 2| downwardly into "clamping engagement with the previously advanc'ed end' 'portion 80a of the-contact strip 8fl v m-ejecting from the lower-endof the guide-plate [32; whereby the end portion of the contact strip *andtheye'nd portion of the switch 'spring are clamped together between the upper and lower 5 electrodes; Simultaneously therewith,- the chuck #ope'ning cam I09 operates through levers I06 and Mottodepress *chuck operating sleeve 8| on feed spindle a2. ""This" downward movement of the ohuck=- operating sleeve is transmitted through the link 92-= (Fig. 2) to collapse the toggle links93-and 94 and thereby release the chuck jaws 81 and-88 frorn'gripping' engagement with the contact strip. The feed spindle 82 is then elevated to an intermediate position by the springpressed sleeve l l2 K-Fig 3) under'the 'controlof the oam 4 23 (Fig. 1),;w-hich'has a dwell portionl23a forholding the' feed spindle in the intermediate position -whilethe previously-clamped end portion 80aiof i175 the contact strip is severed'by adownward movementof thechisel-like cutter 28 under the control ofcam l 52. e 'The ohuckopeningcam l llii (Fig. 1 )-is designed to permit spring l 00 (Figs. 2 and 3 t'o shift'chu'ck operating 'sleeve 81 upwa'rdly on 'the feed spindle L? and thereby close the chuck jaws" into "gripping engagement with the contact strip just prior to the' cutting op'eration. Immediately after'- the "cuttingoperation, the feed spindle 82 is elevated to its uppermost position by the spring pressed sleeve H2 underthecontrol of the cam-l23, whereby the previously gripped contact strip 80 is retracted' from the previously severed e'ndp'or- -tion 89a,;thereof so'as-to prevent the diversion'of "welding-currentthrough the continuous 'str-ip of fcontact metal during the -welding operation, "which" is *timed by suitable means (none shown) -to take placeimmediately after the retraction of the continuous contact strip from the severed end portion thereof.

1 "After the severed end portion "of the contact strip hasbeen weldedto the switch spring, the

upper'elec'trode 2| is elevatedor retracted by-the carried and simultaneously therewith the contact strip feeding spindle 82' is moved downwardlyfby -c'am"l2 3 to advance a fresh end portion of the contactstrip into position below the retracted 60 "upper" electrodef thus" completing an "operating cycle'ofthe'machine,which may be repeatedby again, connecting 'theshaft' with I the driving means. What is claimed is'; 1;,In a welding machine; stripfeeding mech- ""anism'comprisi'ng a pair of telescopingly' arranged members for receiving said strip and mounted for independent reciprocatory movement longitudinally of said strip, a pair of cooperating strip gripping jaws mounted on one of said members, one of said jaws being mounted for rectilinear movement relative to the other and transversely of the direction of movement of said one member, toggle linkage pivoted to said one jaw for causing 7 rectilinear movement of said one jaw toward the other to grip the strip therebetween, and a link pivotally interconnecting said toggle linkage and the other of said pair of members whereby said toggle linkage is operated by movement of said one member of said pair relative to the other member of said pair.

2. In a welding machine, strip'feeding mechanism comprising inner and outer coaxial tubular members mounted for independent reciprocatory movement longitudinally of said strip, said inner tubular member having a longitudinal bore for the passage of said strip therethrough, a pair of cooperating strip gripping jaws mounted on said inner tubular member, one of which is slidably mounted for rectilinear movement relative to the other and transversely of said tubular member,

toggle linkage pivoted to said one jaw for causing rectilinear movement of said one jaw toward the other to grip the strip therebetween, and a link pivotally interconnecting said toggle linkage with said outer tubular member whereby said toggle linkage is operated by movement of said outer tubular member relative to said inner tubular member.

3. In a welding machine, strip feeding mechanism comprising inner and outer coaxial tubular members mounted for independent reciprocatory movement longitudinally of said strip, said inner tubular member having a longitudinal bore for the passage of said strip therethrough, a pair of cooperating strip gripping jaws mounted on said inner tubular member for movement relative to each other and transversely of said tubular member, toggle linkage for causing a relative movement of said jaws toward each other to grip the strip therebetween, means interconnecting said toggle linkage with said outer tubular member whereby said linkage is operated by movement of said outer tubular member relative to said inner tubular member, cooperating levers and resilient means associated with said tubular members for imparting reciprocatory movements to said tubular members to actuate said toggle linkage to cause relative movement of said jaws from and into gripping relation with said strip, to cause advance movement of said strip and to cause retractive movements of said strip, a driven cam shaft, and cam means on said shaft associated with said levers for controlling the efiectiveness of said levers and resilient means to move said tubular members in timed relation.

4. In a welding machine, strip feeding mechanism comprising a reciprocatory member movable longitudinally of said strip and having a longitudinal passage for the movement of said strip therethrough, a pair of cooperating strip gripping elements slidably mounted on said member, one of which is slidably mounted for rectilinear movement relative to the other and transversely of the direction of movement of said member, toggle links pivotally connected to said member and to said one element for causing rectilinear movement of said one element toward the other to grip the strip therebetween, a second reciprocatory member movable independently of and parallel to the movement of said first member,

and a link pivotally interconnecting said toggle links with said second member whereby said toggle links are operated by movement of said second member relative to said first member.

5. In a welding machine, strip feeding mecha nism comprising a reciprocatory tubular member movable longitudinally of said strip, said tubular member having a longitudinal bore for the passage of said strip therethrough, said bore having an enlargement at one end, a pair of cooperating strip gripping elements mounted in said enlargement at opposite sides of said strip, one of said elements being mounted for rectilinear movement relative to the other and transversely of the direction of movement of said member, toggle linkage connected to said one element for causing rectilinear movement toward the other to grip the strip therebetween, reciprocatory means guided on said tubular member independently of the movement thereof, and a link pivotally interconnecting said toggle linkage with said reciprocatory means whereby said toggle linkage is operated by movement of said reciprocatory means relative to said tubular member.

6. In a welding machine, strip feeding mechanism comprising inner and outer coaxial tubular members mounted for independent reciprocatory movement longitudinally of said strip, said inner tubular member having a longitudinal bore for the passage of said strip therethrough, a pair of cooperating strip gripping jaws mounted on said inner tubular member for movement reative to each other and transversely of said tubular member, toggle linkage for causing a relative movement of said jaws toward each other to grip the strip therebetween, means interconnecting said toggle linkage with said outer tubular member, whereby said linkage is operated by movement of said outer tubular member relative to said inner tubular member, cooperating levers and resilient means associated with said tubular members for imparting reciprocatory movements to said tubular members to actuate said toggfe linkage to cause relative movement of said jaws from and into gripping relation with said strip, to cause advance movement of said strip and to cause 'retractive movement of said strip, said resilient means being efiective to constantly urge said tubular members in one direction, a driven cam shaft, and cam means on said shaft associated with levers for controlling the effectiveness of said levers and resilient means to move said tubular members in timed relation. FRANK MARTINDELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 763,195 Merz June 21, 1904 833,460 Howe Oct. 16, 1906 1,257,035 Smith Feb. 19, 1918 1,472,044 Brogan Oct. 30, 1923 2,078,282 Sadgebury Apr. 27, 1937 

